The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-03
A NNUAL STATEMENT OF
n THE SCHOOL TREASURER.

To the Honorable the Board of School Com
missioners of Carroll County, Maryland:
/ submit herewith, as required by law, a
statement of the receipts and disbursements
ON account of the public schools of Carroll
county, for the fiscal year ending Both Sep
TENDER, 1887.
Except by comparison with those OF other
years, the statement shows almost nothing OF
the growth and progress of the schools, and
makes only condensed and vague exhibit of
their cost. tits due hepublic, and yourselves
as we'll. that there should be rendered more
detailed account of the second term OF your
stewardship which is now drawing to close.
During the two years of that term the num-
Der of pupils in actual attendance at the public
schools Of the county has increased from
6,327 to Z, 020, necessitating several new dis
tricts and an addition of eleven to the number
of teachers.
The utter dilapdation of many old school
houses compelled the building of new ones in
their places. Much Of the school furniture
was also worn out, and had to be replaced
with new. As far as possible these wants
have been supplied, and the large item Of
interest in the statement suggests the heroic
measures which were required to reach that
end.
During the term, fourteen new rooms for
white schools and two for colored schools have
been built, at a cost of about $4,000. In the
same time 81, 662 46 were expended in repair
ing old houses still worth repairing, and 81
978. IS for furniture. During the two years,
of your first term the number of pupils in
creased LOG and the number of teachers q;
eight new rooms were built at O cost of about.
81 900; the sum of S2,410.57 was expended
for repairs, and $685. for furniture
In the meantime our ceunty's portion of
the State Free School Fund has shrnnk from
81. 627. 46 in 1884 to 2,267. Al in 1886, and to
81, 99S. sc in 1887; and our county portion of
the State School Tax in June, 1887, was
81, 900. 90 less than usual.
These large but unavoidable draughts, and
the unaccountable shrinkage in the states pay
ments have left the school treasury in crippled
condition. 1t is useless to conceal the fact
that the resources are not sufficient for the
demands made upon them. The funds avail
able, at their best, do not suffice to keep the
schools open three terms at our present rate
of salaries-the lowest in the state-even if
there be no extraordinary expenditures for
new buildings or furniture. How, then, can
they be expected to bear the additional bur-
dens now laid upon them for these purposes?
Some twelve more new rooms are needed, of
which several cannot be delayed another year.
1t is believed that when these shall all have
been erected scarcely any necessity will arise
for new schoolhouses for many years to come.
By careful attention and judicious repairs the
furniture, when once renewed, can be kept in
order without great outlay at any one time,
so that in year or two the pinching pressure
occasioned by these unusual expenses will
have measurably passed away.
But how shall the school authorities meet
the present demands, and how, provide for the
increasing necessities from rear to year
They are powerless to augmej their revenues.
There is but one ALTERNATIVE they must di-
minish their expenses. There must be more
money or less school. 1t is for the people TO
say which they prefer.
The County Commissioners this year made
an extra appropriation of 81, 900 for building
purposes, but the price exacted for even that
meagre and temporary relief was the sacrifice
of one or part of one term of school. If the
annual allowance from the county were raised
to S25, 200 lit is now $2l ,000), the relief would
be permanent and ample for awhile, and need
add but little, if anything, to the tax rate.
In the fiscal year before the last Anne
Arundel county, for 1893 pupils, paid $27,-
568.7S; Baltimore county, for 14,703 pupils,
paid $l09, 300; Cecil county, for 1862 pupils,
paid S21, PSI 90; Frederick county, for 1886
pupils, paid S31 ,202; Washington county, for
5000 pupils, paid $4,000; Carroll county,
for 6,5S7 pupils, paid S2l 900.
1t is idle and ridiculous to boast that we,
have the lowest tax rate in the state, when at
the same time we are obliged TO close the,
schools to get funds for building and furnish
ing necessary schoolhouses. Ihave the honor,
to be, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. DIFFENBAUGH,
Treasurer, &C., County School Board!